STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2986

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 20

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Tourism and International Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 20 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII SISTER-STATE COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INITIATION OF A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE OF GOA IN THE COUNTRY OF INDIA AND FORWARD ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE LEGISLATURE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 229-3, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, FOR FURTHER ACTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Hawaii Sister-State Committee to evaluate and develop recommendations to initiate a sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii and Goa of the Republic of India for economic, social, cultural, educational, and environmental benefits.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Bombay Palace Restaurant; Cosmopolitan Sun Shop; Down to Earth; Gandhi International Institute for Peace; Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii; Iskcow Temple; Indian-American Friendship Council; Indian Market; MOA Hawaii; World Medicine Institute; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is actively seeking to expand its international ties and has an abiding interest in developing goodwill, friendship, environmental stewardship, and economic relations between the people of Hawaii and the people of many nations.  Your Committee further finds that the Republic of India, one of the most diverse and most populous democratic countries in South Asia, is recognized internationally as the future of economic development.  Goa is thought of as a leader in technology and could provide enrichment opportunities for student exchanges with the University of Hawaii.  A relationship between Hawaii and Goa will create new possibilities to share markets involving medicinal, herbal, and other food products, and to trade agricultural and culinary knowledge related to these products.

     The Hawaii Sister-State Committee submitted a recommendation by letter dated January 7, 2016, signed by Luis P. Salaveria, Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and addressed to the President and members of the Senate and Speaker and members of the House of Representatives, recommending establishment of a sister-state relationship with Goa.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and substituting them with language, including an amended title, that establishes a sister-state relationship by concurrent resolution, the next step as required by law.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 20, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 20, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism and International Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Majority Leader